Medicos Tortured And Killed Monkey The Most Horrific Way  

Cennai: Yet another case of horrifying animal cruelty by medicos has surfaced, this time at Christian Medical College in Vellore. An FIR has been filed against four students of the college for torturing and killing a monkey before burying it on the premises. All the four students have been suspended from the college.

It may be recalled here that a few months ago, two medicos in Chennai flung a dog off a terrace.

Chennai-based animal welfare activist Shravan Krishnan, who was informed of the incident by a student of the college, said the female monkey had wandered into the hostel on November 19. "The four medicos caught her with a blanket, tied her hands and then tortured her in front of other students, beating her with sticks and belts, breaking her legs and jaws, and finally put a rod up her anus and killed her," he said. The incident happened around 12.30pm. "The hostel general secretary immediately informed the college authorities," Krishnan said.

Some students contacted Mumbai-based animal activist Meet Ashar who tipped off people in Chennai on November 21. Activists Dinesh Baba, Nishanth Nichu, Shravan Krishnan and Antony Rubin immediately went to Vellore.

"We reached Bagyam police station by 1am and filed a complaint. We, along with the tahsildar, police, forest department officials, veterinarian from the animal husbandry department, and village administrative officer, reached CMC by 12.50pm on November 22," said Rubin. College administration officials and security were also present.

The monkey's body was exhumed from behind the men's hostel. Aged about 11-12 months, it had multiple fractures, its hands were tried behind its back, a telephone cord tied around its neck and a sharp object inserted from the rear. "I have never seen a more horrifying sight in all my years in animal welfare," said Krishnan. An FIR was filed and cases registered against Jasfar Samuvel, Rohitkumar Yenukutti, Arun Luvis and Aleks Selkaleyal under IPC 429 and the Wildlife Protection Act (WPA), 1972.

The monkey belonged to bonnet macaque (Macaca radiata), endemic to southern India, is listed under Schedule II (Part 1) of the WPA.

The college has also initiated action. "The incident was brought to my notice on November 20. We tried to get information to verify what had happened and by Monday evening we got it," said principal Anna Pulimood. On Tuesday morning, the college set up an inquiry committee and a report was filed by Wednesday. "All the four students are being suspended and we have contacted their parents," said Pulimood, adding that the college strongly condemned the act.